Written Answers

Friday 7 May 2004

Scottish Executive

Adoption

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under one had adoption certificates issued for them in each year from 1999 to 2003.

Euan Robson: Adoption certificates are issued, on request, by the General Register Office for Scotland. It is not possible to identify the number of certificates issued in any given year for children under the age of one.

  Statistics on the number of adoption applications for children are published each year by the Scottish Executive. The latest figures, including those for children under one year, can be accessed at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00329-03.asp.

Census

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release the 1911 and 1921 Census records in line with the practice applied to the 1841 to 1891 Census records.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33622 on 10 February 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Crofting

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce legislation to implement the Crofting Development Programme.

Allan Wilson: Our Programme for Government sets out our intention to introduce crofting reform legislation. Our plans were explained in the White Paper Crofting Reform Proposals For Legislation published in July 2002. This included a proposal to create a new constitution for the Crofters Commission which would give it power to make grants.

  This legislation will enable the Crofters Commission to implement the Crofting Development Programme. A date for the introduction of legislation is yet to be determined. However, we hope to be able to publish a draft bill later this year.

Crofting

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final report of the review of the Crofters Commission Livestock Improvement Schemes.

Allan Wilson: A copy of the evaluation report on the Livestock Improvement Schemes has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 32088) and on the Crofters Commission website. Those who cannot access the website can obtain a paper copy of the report on request from the Crofters Commission or the Scottish Executive.

Crofting

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the consultation report on proposals for a Crofting Development Programme.

Allan Wilson: The report on the responses to the consultation on the Crofting Development Programme has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 32087) and on the Crofters Commission website. Those who cannot access the website can obtain a paper copy of the report on request from the Crofters Commission or the Scottish Executive. The responses to the consultation are available for inspection at the Crofters Commission, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EQ.

Cycling

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people now receive quality cycle training.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not held centrally. However, figures will be obtained from Local Road Safety Units and Cycling Scotland on their training activities. I will write to the member once all the responses have been received.

Cycling

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes are in place offering high quality cycle training for all age groups.

Nicol Stephen: High quality cycle training for children is provided through the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme by local Road Safety Units. Cycling Scotland supplements this with additional levels of cycle training for children and adults. It has also embarked on a training programme for adult cycle trainers and plans to expand future training activities in response to demand for its services.

Emergency Planning

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what insurance cover or other provision it has made for emergency service personnel injured or killed whilst on duty in response to an act of terrorism.

Hugh Henry: This subject, which involves reserved matters relating to the provision of financial services, is currently under consideration. The Cabinet Office, in consultation with other government departments and devolved administrations responsible for emergency services, is currently pursuing the matter of personal insurance cover. At present they are collecting evidence to establish if there is a problem and what the implications may be for the emergency services. Furthermore, discussions are also taking place with the insurance industry.

Fire Service

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fires have been dealt with in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many have been identified as being caused by cigarettes, broken down by fire brigade area.

Hugh Henry: The information requested, taken from the most recently published statistics, is set out in the following tables:

  Table 1 Fires1,2 by Brigade Area, Scotland, 1999-2002

  


 

Scotland

Central

Dumfries and Galloway

Fife

Grampian

Highland and Islands

Lothian and Borders

Strathclyde

Tayside



1999
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Primary

20,656

819

363

1,136

1,838

713

3,691

10,502

1,594



Secondary

28,519

1,174

232

1,728

1,541

586

5,137

15,767

2,354



Chimney

3,452

92

292

175

527

1,074

447

592

253



Total

52,627

2,085

887

3,039

3,906

2,373

9,275

26,861

4,201



2000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Primary

20,191

834

418

1,118

1,668

643

3,636

10,229

1,645



Secondary

32,432

1,374

288

1,829

1,537

657

5,183

18,920

2,644



Chimney

3,119

86

285

147

531

1,018

333

486

233



Total

55,742

2,294

991

3,094

3,736

2,318

9,152

29,635

4,522



2001
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Primary

19,738

863

355

1,235

1,601

663

3,680

9,720

1,621



Secondary

36,238

1,768

370

1,845

1,709

935

5,886

20,842

2,883



Chimney

3,440

97

314

120

534

1,239

324

587

225



Total

59,416

2,728

1,039

3,200

3,844

2,837

9,890

31,149

4,729



20023
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Primary

19,196

884

372

1,146

1,742

606

3,682

9,164

1,600



Secondary

30,937

1,589

399

1,724

1,790

836

5,373

16,839

2,387



Chimney

2,462

61

210

93

388

855

266

418

171



Total

52,595

2,534

981

2,963

3,920

2,297

9,321

26,421

4,158



  Notes:

  1. Including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents not recorded prior to 1994.

  2. Figures from 1994 are based on sample data weighted to the brigade totals.

  3. Including estimates for a period of 10 days of industrial action in November 2002.

  Table 2 Primary Fires1 Started by Cigarettes or Other Tobacco Products by Brigade Area, Scotland, 1999-2002

  


 

Scotland

Central

Dumfries and Galloway

Fife

Grampian

Highland and Islands

Lothian and Borders

Strathclyde

Tayside



1999

1,022

36

9

91

117

16

221

441

90



2000

801

31

15

46

66

43

183

330

87



2001

916

53

10

63

67

15

226

401

81



20022

816

41

11

45

94

24

195

355

52



  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on sampled data, including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994).

  2. Excluding a period of 10 days of industrial action in November 2002.

Fire Service

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fire fatalities there have been in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many were the result of fires identified as being caused by cigarettes, broken down by fire brigade area.

Hugh Henry: The information requested, taken from the most recently published statistics, is set out in the following tables

  Table 1 Fatalities from Fires1 by Brigade Area, Scotland, 1999-2002

  


 

Scotland

Central

Dumfries and Galloway

Fife

Grampian

Highland and Islands

Lothian and Borders

Strathclyde

Tayside



1999 Fatal 

105

3

5

10

5

2

17

54

9



2000 Fatal 

75

-

-

4

6

4

13

41

7



2001 Fatal 

96

5

3

4

13

6

15

41

9



20022 Fatal 

77

2

1

12

9

4

5

42

2



  Notes:

  1. Including late call and heat and smoke damage only incidents (not recorded prior to 1994).

  2. Excluding a period of 10 days of industrial action in November 2002.

  Table 2 Fatal Casualties in Primary Fires Started by Cigarettes or Other Tobacco Products by Brigade Area, Scotland, 1999-2002

  


 

Scotland

Central

Dumfries and Galloway

Fife

Grampian

Highland and Islands

Lothian and Borders

Strathclyde

Tayside



1999

35

1

1

5

4

-

6

15

3



2000

24

-

-

-

1

2

4

16

1



2001

27

1

-

-

3

2

2

14

5



20021

31

2

-

5

1

-

3

20

-



  Note:

  1. Excluding a period of 10 days of industrial action in November 2002.

Livestock

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Livestock Improvement Schemes contravened European Commission rules on state aid and, if so, what rules they contravened.

Allan Wilson: There has never been a formal ruling as to the status of the Livestock Improvement Schemes under European Union state aid rules. However, concerns have been expressed by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (which is responsible for ensuring UK compliance with the Community Guidelines for State Aid in the Agricultural Sector) as to the extent to which the schemes are consistent with the guidelines. In particular these guidelines prohibit the granting of an ongoing operating aid and limit the level of permissible support. On the basis of legal advice, we share those concerns.

Livestock

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what will replace the Ram Purchase Scheme and Shetland Ram Scheme.

Allan Wilson: There are no plans to replace these schemes. We have ended the Ram Hire Scheme because it was not effective and it did not deliver measurable improvement or value for money. We ended the Shetland Ram Scheme because the purpose for which it was created is no longer relevant. These issues are clearly explained in the evaluation of the schemes. That document is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 32088) and is published on the Crofters Commission Website. Paper copies are also obtainable on request from the Crofters Commission and the Scottish Executive.

Livestock

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be provided for training in ram selection and purchasing.

Allan Wilson: The evaluation of the Livestock Improvement Schemes concluded that the Ram Purchase Scheme was not meeting its objectives. In deciding that it should therefore be discontinued, we recognised that some members of the crofting groups who currently use that scheme might benefit from assistance in adjusting to the new circumstances. The offer of training is therefore to the members of the various groups who utilised the Ram Purchase Scheme. We shall be consulting interested parties shortly on the form the training will take. This will depend on the level of interest in taking up the offer and the circumstances and existing skills of those who wish to do so. It is our intention to provide training to meet the needs of the individuals concerned.

Local Government Finance

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that funds allocated under the City Growth fund will be distributed fairly throughout the Edinburgh region.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding made available under the City Growth fund is intended to benefit areas surrounding cities.

Mr Andy Kerr: In Building Better Cities, we commissioned each city to prepare a ten-year City-Vision. As part of the City-Vision process, we required detailed consultation with neighbouring local authorities and other regional stakeholders.

  The City-Visions describe the outcomes the Cities Growth Fund is intended to secure for each city and its surrounding city-region and form the basis for the allocation of funding among different projects. Responsibility for allocating the funds to individual City-Vision projects rests with each city-based Community Planning Partnership. Local ownership of the City-Visions, combined with management and evaluation of individual projects by Community Planning Partnerships, ensure that funding is targeted directly at the realisation of locally-identified priorities.

  The results of this process are reflected in Edinburgh's City-Vision (Building a Better Edinburgh: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/citiesreview), which describes the set of projects (including a number put forward by neighbouring councils) to be financed by the Cities Growth Fund and which are designed to form a coherent package which will provide significant benefits for both Edinburgh and the wider city-region.

Local Government Finance

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor spending decisions made by local authorities under the City Growth fund.

Mr Andy Kerr: Responsibility for management and evaluation of individual City-Vision projects funded by the Cities Growth Fund rests with each of the six city local authorities, as lead partners in the Community Planning Partnership.

  We expect rigorous processes to operate in each local authority for management of Cities Growth Fund grant allocations, in line with their duty under section 95 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs. Each city local authority is required to submit an annual report to the Executive by 30 June each year, covering the outcomes achieved by each City-Vision project, third-party leverage funding obtained, the award of any contracts and future investment plans. By 31 July 2006, each authority must prepare a consolidated report covering the full grant period. Annual reports detailing expenditure must be certified by the authority's Director of Finance as having been spent according to the grant conditions.

  We also expect the city local authorities to have regard to the need to secure Best Value in the management of all City-Vision projects. Individual elements financed by the Cities Growth Fund are subject to the same degree of scrutiny, including external audit, as other items of council expenditure: this should include pre-expenditure assessment of significant projects and regular progress reporting to council management teams and executive members.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 5 March 2004 regarding Sativex spray prescription for people with MS.

Malcolm Chisholm: A reply to this letter was issued on 2 April 2004.

Modern Apprenticeships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each parliamentary constituency in the Central Scotland region have participated in modern apprenticeship schemes, broken down by (a) gender, (b) race and (c) disability, in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The information requested is not held centrally.

Ophthalmic Services

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the Association of British Dispensing Opticians to resolve any anomalies concerning its funding and status.

Mr Tom McCabe: No. The Scottish Executive has no responsibility for the funding or status of professional representative bodies such as the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what performance points were accrued by the operating company of HM Prison Kilmarnock, broken down for each heading and subsection in Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , for the quarters October to December 2003 and January to March 2004.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  

 

October to December 2003

January to March 2004



Failure to process Accurate Warrant Details

10

0



Discovery within Prison of Smuggled in items

125

150



Failure of Security Procedures

70

100



Staff Assault – Serious Injury

0

0



Minor Injury

0

0



No Injury

15

10



Prisoner Assault – Serious Injury

0

0



Minor Injury

0

40



No Injury

55

45



Incident of Concerted Indiscipline

20

40



Incident of Class A Drugs

350

280



Incident of Drugs other than Class A

95

45



Tool/Implement Loss (recovered)

2

0



Tool/Implement Loss (not recovered)

8

4



Failure to start Visits within 20 minutes

3

0

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what performance-related revenue deductions have been incurred under the contract to operate HM Prison Kilmarnock by the prison's operator in each quarter since the start of the prison's operation.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  


Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4



Year 1



£105,174.67

£176,249.00

£174,333.00

Nil



Year 2



Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil



Year 3



£55644.08

£30,973.00

£21,172.00

£124,529.00



Year 4



£160,692.71

£160,458.00

£158,702.00

£159,689.00



Year 5



£99,536.85

£141,357.00

£25,841.00

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1868 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 September 2003, whether the maximum limit of 5% of contract price for performance revenue deduction, as referred to in the second paragraph of Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a prison at Kilmarnock , has been applied for each other quarter of the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of each default notice received under paragraph 46 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , including the date on which each notice was received and the nature of each default.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There have been no such notices.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-27403 and S2W-286 by Mr Jim Wallace and Cathy Jamieson on 2 August 2002 and 4 June 2003 respectively, whether it has received any further notices under paragraph 6.8 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock and, if so, on what dates.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes. The notice was dated 29 January 2004.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-283 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 June 2003, what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-284 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 June 2003 what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Because the act referred to does not fall within the definition of Prison Legislation as defined at Clause 1.1.97 of the Minute of Agreement.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5824 by Cathy Jamieson on 10 February 2004, what the data held on prison visitors is used for and to which organisations outside the Scottish Prison Service data held on prison visitors is sent.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Data held on prison visitors is not sent to any organisations outside the Scottish Prison Service. Individual visitor information may be used by the Scottish Prison Service to ensure the validity of claims for financial assistance towards the cost of travel in relation to prison visits. This is carried out in conjunction with the Assisted Prison Visits Unit and is intended to reduce the risk of fraudulent claims.

Public Appointments

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target response time is for dealing with in-bound calls by the organisation responsible for the operation of its phone line for applications for public appointments.

Mr Andy Kerr: According to the service level agreement between the Scottish Executive and Response Handling Ltd, the target is for all in-bound calls to be answered within five rings. If the lines are engaged, a welcome announcement is activated which invites the caller to hold the line. If the caller remains on hold, an announcement is activated stating that the advisers are all busy and the call will be answered as soon as possible.

  An out of hours announcement is also in place which is activated when the office is closed. This invites the caller to call back during office hours or leave a name and telephone number in order to allow an adviser to call back.

Public Appointments

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken was to deal with in-bound calls by the organisation responsible for the operation of its phone line for applications for public appointments in each of the last six months.

Mr Andy Kerr: Response times are affected by the number of appointment rounds being handled at any given time and the accompanying level of public interest.

  According to data provided by Response Handling Ltd, the average time taken to answer in-bound calls during the last six months has been as follows:

  


Month

Duration



October 2003

 10 seconds



November 2003

 12 seconds



December 2003

 5 seconds



January 2004

 10 seconds



February 2004

 3 seconds



March 2004

 14 seconds

Public Appointments

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the current system for dealing with applications for public appointments was instigated; when it is due for review, and what systems are in place to ensure that it is functioning satisfactorily.

Mr Andy Kerr: After a competitive tendering exercise, a one year contract was awarded on 2 February 2003 with an option to extend it for a further 12 month period. This option was taken up and the contract has been extended to 1 February 2005. Action to re-tender for the period from 2 February 2005 onwards will commence shortly.

  A detailed Service Level Agreement is in place. The Executive receives customer feedback reports from the contractor and operates its own "mystery shopper" programme to ensure that the service is functioning satisfactorily.

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been paid to non-public bodies under PFI and PPP schemes in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7194 on 20 April 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on external consultants and advisers in each year since consideration of PFI/PPP as a funding method for the building at Little France began.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Lothian. The information requested is not held centrally.

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred by Hairmyres Hospital on external consultants and advisers in each year since consideration of PFI/PPP as a funding method for the new building began.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred by Law District General Hospital on external consultants and advisers in each year since consideration of PFI/PPP as a funding method for the new building began.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire. The information requested is not held centrally.

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred by East Ayrshire Community Hospital on external consultants and advisers in each year since consideration of PFI/PPP as a funding method for the building began.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran. The information requested is not held centrally.

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public sector capital projects involving private finance are (a) planned and (b) under way, detailing their start and estimated completion dates; what the total estimated capital investment is for these projects, and what annual public expenditure will be required to service these projects over the life of the projects, expressed in both cash and real terms.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7193 on 20 April 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Rail Services

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many branch lines have been re-opened for passenger rail services in each year since 1970.

Nicol Stephen: Since 1970, 12 lines or sections of line (which primarily had been used for freight services) have started to be used for new passenger services. Only one of these lines involved full re-instatement, requiring the laying of new track prior to its re-opening.

Renewable Energy

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public funding is available to producers of biofuels.

Nicol Stephen: There are no specific schemes in relation to biofuels but producers of biofuels might be eligible to apply for public funding from more general programmes, for example:

  Smart, Spur and Spur Plus Programmes

  Sustainable Action Fund

  Small company Innovation Scheme (Scottish Enterprise).

Renewable Energy

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the use of biofuels, in light of the Kyoto targets.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has agreed with Department for Transport to set common targets for biofuels sales, in response to the EU Biofuels Directive (2003/30/EC). The level of these targets, and other matters related to biofuels, is the subject of a consultation paper issued by the Department for Transport on 26 April. The consultation paper can be found on the Department for Transport web site at: www.dft.gov.uk/road/biofuelsconsultation .

Renewable Energy

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding any possible reduction in duty on biofuels.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with HM Treasury on a range of issues. The Minister for Transport is a member of the Low Carbon Ministerial Group, commissioned by the Prime Minister to oversee the Powering Future Vehicles Strategy. This group, which includes HM Treasury, provides a forum for discussion of all aspects of delivering cleaner, more sustainable road transport.

Renewable Energy

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what countries Scotland imports biofuels from and how much is imported from each country.

Nicol Stephen: Data on the importation of biofuels to Scotland is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

Renewable Energy

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken into the development of biofuels.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive commissioned the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (MLURI) to undertake a research project examining all potential energy sources obtainable from crops, timber and agricultural residue. The Study Report was published by MLURI at a workshop on 30 April 2004. The Executive welcomes this Report and will study its content carefully.

Rural Development

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its funding priorities are in respect of rural village halls.

Ross Finnie: The Executive recognises the important role that rural village halls play in the life of their local communities. They are often the focus of a rural community's social and community activities – allowing groups to meet locally and providing other services such as internet access or advice surgeries that may not be easily accessible otherwise.

  We want to ensure that communities across rural Scotland learn from each other. With funding from the Scottish Executive Rural Voices programme in 2003-04, the Collieston community in Aberdeenshire spoke to a wide range of village hall committees to learn from their experience. We will be working with Collieston in the next few months to build on this work and produce comprehensive guidance for rural communities across Scotland on developing village halls.

  The Local Capital Grants Scheme is designed to assist local voluntary and community organisations to provide new or upgrade existing community facilities for educational, social and recreational activities. Projects can apply for 50% of eligible costs up to a grant limit of £100,000.

Smoking

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation to make all cigarettes sold in Scotland self-extinguishing, similar to that introduced by the Canadian government.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the specification of product safety.

Smoking

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost has been of dealing with fires in each year since 1999 and, of this, what the cost has been of dealing with fires identified as being caused by cigarettes, broken down by fire brigade area.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally.

Students

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many veterinary undergraduates there are.

Mr Jim Wallace: Latest available figures show that there are 979 Veterinary undergraduates studying at the two Veterinary Schools in Scotland.

  


Total

2001-02



979



University of Edinburgh

505



University of Glasgow

474



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support alternatives to children being driven by car to school.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7606 on 4 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Veterinary Services

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of state funding is for veterinary services.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vets undertake large animal work.

Ross Finnie: In 2004-05 running costs of the State Veterinary Service (SVS) in Scotland are £5.8 million and a further £3.5 million is expected to be spent on fees for Local Veterinary Inspectors who work in support of the SVS. The SVS is a GB-wide organisation and the UK Government is responsible for most of these costs.

  In addition the Scottish Executive pays SAC £2.5 million for work on animal disease surveillance.

Veterinary Services

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the structure is of the State Veterinary Service.

Ross Finnie: The State Veterinary Service (SVS) is a GB-wide organisation supporting the delivery of animal health and welfare policy of Scottish, Welsh and DEFRA Ministers. The SVS, which will move to agency status in 2005, is overseen by a Management Board comprising of officials from the three administrations. The board oversees the SVS's strategic direction and monitors its performance.

  In Scotland the SVS is headed by the Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland) who is supported by a team of policy vets who provide independent veterinary advice to Scottish ministers and a Head of Veterinary Services who line manages the five Scottish animal health divisional offices which are responsible for the implementation of Scottish Animal Health and Welfare policies.

Veterinary Services

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many veterinary inspectors work in abattoirs.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Meat Hygiene Service is responsible for supervision and meat inspection in all licensed fresh meat premises in Great Britain, and currently employs 173 Official Veterinary Surgeons and 144 Meat Hygiene Inspectors in Scotland.